Surgery Center CEO Nick Vailas Supports Repeal of CON Laws in New Hampshire

Nick Vailas, former commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the CEO of Bedford (N.H.) Ambulatory Surgical Center, spoke to lawmakers this week in support of a bill that would eliminate the state's certificate of need process, according to a Concord Monitor report.

Mr. Vailas favors letting the market dictate which healthcare facilities succeed and which fail. His surgery center took the review board to court to receive its certificate of need.

"I would greatly benefit if the [certificate of need review] was tightened," Mr. Vailas said. "But I support the notion that we need to repeal this process. I am amazed that there are Republicans in this room and they've lost their faith in the free market."

Under existing law, owners of hospitals, surgery centers, nursing homes, rehabilitation hospitals and psychiatric hospitals must obtain a certificate of need from the review board before they can build, buy significant pieces of equipment or make significant improvements to their buildings.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Frank Holden (R-Lyndeborough), would repeal the state board's authority to decide which facilities can be built in the state.

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